NEWS LITE : MADONNA UPSET BY IRE OF HINDUS.

Madonna fended off new charges of religious blasphemy by a Hindu group. The World Vaishnava Association of Sacramento wants the singer to apologize for wearing henna markings, which represent purity, while ``gyrating in a sexually suggestive manner'' and wearing a see-through blouse.

Madonna said through her publicist Liz Rosenberg that she was ``very surprised'' by the criticism. ``She certainly had no intention of insulting anyone,'' Rosenberg said.

``She doesn't know why they're picking on her,'' added Rosenberg, who noted that Gwen Stefani, lead singer of No Doubt, also wears the henna symbols. ``Why don't they pick on Gwen Stefani?''

Besides, ``the essence of purity and divinity is nonjudgment. They should practice what they preach. If they're so pure, why are they watching MTV?''

Cruise praises time spent with Kubrick

Tom Cruise has spoken at length for the first time about the Stanley Kubrick movie ``Eyes Wide Shut,'' which has taken up most of the past two years of the actor's life, and contrary to previous reports, he doesn't sound put off by the experience.

``People say, You've lost 40, 60, 80 million dollars. . . . You've lost all this time,'' Cruise said at the Toronto Film Festival this week. ``I don't understand that kind of thinking. I've been doing this for 18 years. Yeah, I make money. And money's wonderful and nice. But . . . there are some things you don't do for money. . . . To have a chance to work with Stanley Kubrick, that's worth it to me.''

He praised the director's work habits, noting: ``He doesn't waste time, he's not indulgent. He worked seven days a week. I got faxes from him at 3, 4 in the morning with scenes. . . . (He) does it in a certain way, like (Charlie) Chaplin did it his way and Woody Allen does it his way.''

Al Fayed Web site all about rich guys

Mohamed Al Fayed, owner of the London department store Harrods, thinks his life is interesting. Just look on his Web site.

The new site - www.alfayed.com - says it is dedicated to carrying a ``comprehensive database of newspaper articles relating to Mr. Al Fayed's interesting life.''

The site includes a large section of stories related to the car crash last year in Paris that killed his son, Dodi, and Princess Diana. A Web site section under construction will contain three subheadings about the couple: ``The Love Affair,'' ``August 31'' and ``Unanswered Questions.''

Paula Jones has brush with the law

Word comes that Paula Jones got quite a welcome to her new neighborhood, Long Beach, which she moved into from Arkansas. Jones, whose sexual harassment suit against the president was thrown out, got pulled over and cited for traffic violations June 6. She was stopped for driving with an expired registration, without a seat belt and without a California license, Sgt. Steve Filippini said. Jones apparently showed her Arkansas driver license, but that doesn't cut it.

Pryor to get Twain prize for telling it like it is

Richard Pryor will get the first Mark Twain Prize for humor, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts announced Tuesday. The ceremony will take place Oct. 20 at the center's ``Celebration of American Humor.'' Lawrence J. Wilker, president of the center, compared Pryor to Twain: ``They were both trenchant social critics who spoke the truth, however outrageous.''

``I feel great about accepting this prize,'' Pryor said in a statement. ``It's nice to be regarded on par with a great white man - now that's funny! Seriously, though, two things people throughout history have had in common are hatred and humor. I am proud that, like Mark Twain, I have been able to use humor to lessen people's hatred.'' A TV host once asked Pryor, 57, known for his raunchy jokes about sex and drugs, if he got tired of hearing people say they were his fans. ``No,'' he answered. ``I get tired of hearing, You're under arrest.''

Two of a kind; Japan celebrates centenarian twins

At 106, Japan's oldest twins are still going strong - spending time together watching sumo wresting or charming audiences on television talk shows.

The sisters - Kin and Gin, or ``Gold'' and ``Silver'' - received 106 tulip bulbs from a flower association to honor them on Tuesday's national Respect for the Aged Day.

``It's nice to be able to live this long, but the truth is that . . . nobody up there wants to invite me, so I can't go,'' Gin Kanie on Monday told Associated Press Television with a wide, wrinkled grin.

The sharp-witted twins who live in the central Japanese city of Nagoya, 190 miles west of Tokyo, are often cited as examples of graceful aging in a society that reveres the elderly.

Graceful aging is becoming more important these days in Japan.

On Monday, the government announced that more than 20 million Japanese are 65 or older - a record high. One-quarter of the population will be elderly by 2015, according to government projections.

Kin has five surviving children and lives with her youngest son Yukio, 67, and his family. She has 11 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Gin, who lives 20 minutes away, has four daughters and lives with her youngest daughter Mineyo, 74. She has four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

After the ceremony Monday, the pair settled down to watch some sumo.

Kin said she's happiest when she's with her sister, Gin.

``That's what I think, at least. I don't know what this person has to say,'' Kin said, turning to Gin.

``Hmm, that's a tough question,'' her sister said.

The two looked at each other and burst out laughing.

News Lite is compiled by Karen Duffy from Daily News staff and wire reports

CAPTION(S):

4 Photos

PHOTO (1) Japan's oldest twins, Kin Narita, left, and Gin Kanie, 106, have charmed a nation.

Kaori Hitomi/Associated Press

(2) Madonna

(3) Cruise

(4) Pryor